DOJ orders measures vs alleged plots by massacre suspects

After receiving persistent intelligence reports on the matter, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has ordered measures to foil alleged plots by the camps of the accused in the Maguindanao massacre to harass witnesses and relatives of the victims in the case. In a radio interview Wednesday, de Lima also ordered tighter security for the accused, amid "continuous" reports that their supporters are plotting to spring them. "Continuous ang mga report, kasama ang intelligence report na meron pa ring binabalak na malagim ang akusado in terms of harassing yung witnesses and the families of the victims. Nakatutok nang husto ang implementors ng witness protection program, inaalagaan talaga ang witnesses na yan. We cannot take them for granted, we cannot be complacent," De Lima told radio dzRH in an interview. (The intelligence reports we continuously get indicate the camp of the accused is plotting something sinister against the witnesses and the victims' families. Our witness protection program personnel are keeping watch over the witnesses. We cannot take these reports for granted, we cannot be complacent.) However, she said they no longer get intelligence reports about any attempt to bribe the witnesses or the victims' families. "We know how moneyed these people are and how capable they are of things like that. We are not letting our guard down in terms of protecting and securing these witnesses," she said. Among the accused are members of the powerful Ampatuan clan, including patriarch Andal Ampatuan Sr. Escape plot? On the other hand, De Lima said she has alerted the Philippine National Police and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology about the intelligence reports of an alleged escape plot. De Lima said she notified PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo and BJMP chief Director Rosendo Dial about the "alleged attempts to rescue or jailbreak" the accused. Also, she said she conducted a surprise visit to the facility in Bicutan (Taguig City) where the accused were detained. "I was told red alert sa kanila kasi nakarating sa kanila rin (I was informed the BJMP and police there were on red alert because they also received such intelligence information)," she said. Hearings Meanwhile, De Lima said she expects the hearings on the case to speed up starting November, with "two to three" hearings a week. She added the Supreme Court even relieved Judge Jocelyn Reyes from other cases so she can concentrate on the Ampatuan massacre case. "By November madadagdagan ang hearing dates (the hearing dates will be more frequent). It may be two to three times a week," she said. — RSJ, GMANews.TV